Popcorn Crunchers, Reel 131 Trivia Quiz

Answer: an atomic-powered backpack

Scientist Doctor Millard is working in his secret laboratory in a cave in the desert to avoid detection by the malevolent Doctor Vulcan. Among his secret research projects is an atomic-powered rocket backpack attached to a leather jacket. This is worn with a bullet-shaped silver helmet.

There are two controls on the flying device: off and on, up and down. Professor Millard gives the suit to Jeff King, who tries it out and then uses it to become Rocket Man.

Answer: She Zombies

"The Astounding She-Monster" (1957) stars a lovely blonde alien wearing a glowing skin-tight metallic bodysuit, with high heels, lipstick, and eyebrows drawn by a cosmetologist gone wild. In "She Devil" (1957), doctors save the life of a gorgeous blonde tuberculosis patient but she becomes irrational and homicidal. Roger Corman directed "She Gods of Shark Reef" (1958) about a tribe of gorgeous scantily-clad women on a remote uncharted island. "The Queen of the She-zombies" is a 2014 very-adult novel by Raol Mavin. "Zombie Death Trap" is a 2014 video game which includes He-Zombies, She-Zombies, and Big Fat Zombies. No 1950s movie called "She Zombies" was found.

Answer: A sonic beam destabilizes their equilibrium.

Dr. Russell Marvin invents a sonic weapon which, within a limited range, disrupts the flying saucers and causes them to crash. High-frequency sound apparently disorients their equipment and destabilises them. Any aliens outside of the protective shield projected by their saucers are easily killed with ordinary gunfire.

Answer: Ed Kemmer

Ed Kemmer's first role on television was in the American science-fiction series "Space Patrol" (1951-1956). Set in the 30th century, Commander Cory and his subordinates fought evil on television, the radio and in comic books. Kemmer's character, Mr. Kingman, is the hero of the piece, one step ahead of local law enforcement and bravely taking on the spider, face to face (if spiders have faces, that is).

Answer: Creatures are rendered sterile there.

The scientists take quick-breeding rabbits with them in the Cyclotram. The rabbits conceive but give birth to dead kits. The team members conclude that the atmosphere in the underground cavern causes "sterility". (Technically, sterile rabbits could not conceive as these do.) Dr. Morley concludes that this is not the paradisiacal refuge for which he had hoped as it would sustain only a single generation of humans and no more.

This is why, when the volcano erupts, in his disappointment, he suicidally remains outside the Cyclotram.

Answer: George Pal

While George Pal was working at Paramount on "When Worlds Collide" (1951), he came upon an unused script adapting H.G. Wells' "The War of the Worlds". Pal had earned his stop-motion chops making comedy short subjects (1941-1947). His first stop-action feature was "Destination Moon" (1950).

His third was "The War of the Worlds". Rather than follow the discovered script, Pal hired Barre Lyndon to write a new screenplay.

Answer: The pilot vastly exceeded the planned altitude.

The flight plan required the pilot to level out at 600,000 feet (113.63 miles). Instead, Lt. Prescott, intoxicated by the prospect of setting an altitude record, fires an emergency booster rocket which propels him to 1,320,000 feet (250 miles). His aircraft passes through a dense cloud of meteorite dust and Dan loses control.

Answer: directing

Gene Fowler Jr. (1917-1998) began work as a film editor with Fritz Lang and Samuel Fuller. He edited "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World" (1963) for Stanley Kramer and "A Child Is Waiting" (1963) for John Cassavetes. His switch to direction, on both film and in television, included two significant science fiction and horror movies: "I Was a Teenage Werewolf" (1957) and "I Married a Monster from Outer Space" (1958).

He was also one of three (uncredited) directors on "The Astral Factor" (1978).

Answer: an unspecified South Pacific island

Howard Carlton, a multimillionaire hotel developer, wants to build a luxury resort on a small South Pacific island. His plan is thwarted by the disappearance of three members of the exploratory party he sends there, the return of another in some sort of zombie trance, and the rumor that the island is possessed by voodoo.

A second expedition is dispatched, which is the subject of the motion picture "Voodoo Island". Although set on an unidentified South Pacific island, the motion picture was shot on Kauaʻi, one of the Hawaiian Islands, back-to-back with "Jungle Heat" (1957) which was directed by Howard W. Koch for Bel-Air Productions.

Answer: The Count ordered them to be buried alive.

Ronald and Elga attempt to escape the Count who intends to kill them both. They are recaptured. Dr. Meissen administers a drug which will make them appear to be dead for ten hours. When they wake up, they will be able to escape from the castle's mausoleum.

Unfortunately, Count von Bruno discovers this subterfuge, kills Dr. Meissen for his treacherous disloyalty, and has the sleeping couple entombed in two coffins, essentially burying them alive.